Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 23-24

Ten draws: Brighton v Newcastle, Norwich v Bristol City, Reading v Hull, Norwich v Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United, Northampton v Bradford City, Peterborough v Wigan, Scunthorpe v Portsmouth, Shrewsbury v Blackburn, Kilmarnock v Dundee, Motherwell v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Norwich v Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United, Scunthorpe v Portsmouth, Shrewsbury v Blackburn, Motherwell v Aberdeen.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Brentford, Cardiff, Blackpool, Hibernian, Dunfermline.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Preston, Wolves, Charlton, Accrington, Luton, Notts County, Partick.


Pick of the draws: Bristol City's 3-3 draw at Championship front-runners Wolves last midweek was well deserved and they improved on that by beating Derby 4-1 at home on Saturday. They are a side on the up and I expect them to gain at least a point at Norwich, who surprised Sheffield United 1-0 away at the weekend. The two Sheffield clubs are in the top half of the table and, despite United's setback against Norwich, thriving. Promoted United are not fazed at all by the Championship and I believe they will share the spoils at Hillsborough. Portsmouth's 4-1 home success against Fleetwood on Saturday was the best result of their League One season so far and they can come away with a point at Graham Alexander's Scunthorpe. League One leaders Shrewsbury are the team of the moment. The Shrews have dropped only two points from eight matches and have a perfect home record. Although their visitors, Blackburn, lost 1-0 at home to Wimbledon at the weekend, I regard this as only a temporary lapse and think they will deny Shrewsbury victory at home for the first time this season. Motherwell, who recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Hibernian, are climbing the Scottish Premiership and can hold second-placed Aberdeen.

Away days: Tottenham were held to a goalless draw by Swansea at Wembley on Saturday but their luck was out. On another day they could have won by three or four and I suspect they will make amends by defeating West Ham in the early Saturday fixture. Brentford are without a win in the Championship this season but I can see that changing when they visit Bolton, who are in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom. Cardiff's Championship surge has been checked recently but they must still be fancied to win at Sunderland, who have only one victory to their credit. In League One, Blackpool are gaining momentum by the week and are recommended at Bristol Rovers, who can't find any consistency. Promoted Hibernian should edge their Scottish Premiership battle against Ross while Dunfermline, the Scottish Championship leaders, will surely confirm their superiority over bottom club Brechin.

Homes sweet homes: You are never sure which Liverpool team is going to turn up these days and Leicester, their hosts on Saturday, will be hoping to use that to their advantage. Although Leicester are in the wrong half of the Premier League, they have had some tough fixtures and are due a break. Another home side worth a punt are Aston Villa, who stopped the rot by winning 3-0 at Barnsley on Saturday. Villa's fans deserve more than they have been getting, especially at Villa Park, and I've a hunch Steve Bruce's team will put that right against Nottingham Forest. I'm backing second-from-bottom Partick to break their duck in the Scottish Premiership, where they are without a win this season. They played well when holding Rangers to a 2-2 draw at home last Friday and they can defeat mid-table Hearts.